Fight anxiety with natural teas

Natural teas have been used for thousands of years to help fight anxiety and help with relaxation. They have been used in spiritual ceremonies and rituals, in medicine to heal, and today natural teas are known for their comforting virtues. Even ordinary tea has benefits. Despite the presence of the same stimulant in tea and coffee, caffeine, ordinary tea does not cause anxiety and stress unlike coffee. So, our advice is: drink tea, not coffee!

Passionflower tea

Passiflora incarnata, which came from Peru in the 17th century, was named after its resemblance to the crucifixion of Christ. Used originally as a sedative by native Peruvians, it has been used to treat agitation in Europe for a few centuries. Nowadays, we think passionflower may provide relief from anxiety, insomnia, and other nervous problems. Some trials show that passionflower, used as an antianxiety drug, improves the quality of sleep in people who drink herbal tea for seven days. We advise you start with lower doses and adjust the dose according to suitability, seeing if you feel any effects along the way.

Kava

Kava may be one of the most powerful anxiety-killing herbal treatments known, and the sensation of relaxation starts almost immediately after drinking. Make sure to buy your kava from a tea shop, as the quality of your tea is important to combat anxiety; kava from grocery stores is often not strong enough. Moreover, for the ultimate effect, add a bit of coconut milk . There is no risk of addiction, but we advise you to mention that you are drinking kava tea to your doctor to avoid potential interactions with medications, like benzodiazepines.

Valerian root tea

Hippocrates used to prescribe valerian root tea for treating patients with insomnia. This tea helps decrease the physical effects of anxiety and assists the natural sleep process. Be careful, though: too much can make you lethargic. As with passionflower tea you should start with lower doses and then adjust if required.

Other teas for anxiety

• Blue vervain: eases sleep troubles and helps to calm your nervous system.
• Catnip: this herb fights symptoms of anxiety, reduces muscle tension, and helps you fall asleep.
• Chamomile: as well as decreasing mild anxiety, chamomile helps alleviate stomach ache. You can add chamomile to your bath, too, which is great for relaxation and skin conditions like eczema.
• Green tea: contains theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation. You should be careful which kind you buy, as there are regular and decaffeinated varieties. For relaxation, the latter is best.